Kuala Lipis was a gold-mining centre before the British arrived in 1887. In 1898, it became the capital of Pahang within the British-administeredFederated Malay States. During this colonial era, grand buildings, such as the imposing district offices, the Clifford School, and the Pahang Club, were built. The hilltop house of the British resident is now a hotel and museum. The town grew and prospered with the coming of the railway in 1924. However, in August 1955, the state capital was shifted to Kuantan,[2] and Kuala Lipis fell into decline.[citation needed]
Kuala Lipis has its own nature park, Kenong Rimba Park. It is a forest reserve, which is about 10 km away. Getting to the park requires a bus or cab to Tanjung Kiara Jetty - once there, activities in the reserve are involved, such as trekking, caving or off-roading.
Former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Tun Razak was born in Kuala Lipis (but his hometown is in Pekan). On 28 December 2014, Najib visited the flood evacuation centre at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Clifford amidst flood-affected areas.[3]
Malaysian pop diva Siti Nurhaliza also grew up here. Her family still lives in Kuala Lipis and the house she built for them became the talk of town as it was rumoured to cost millions of ringgit. It has now become a tourist attraction. The town council even provided directions to the house on a signboard and made parking space for tour buses available near the house. During her wedding in 2007, her wedding reception for friends and fans here was made an official function for the whole town by the council.
References
^According to Ringkasan Eksekutif Rancangan Tempatan Daerah Lipis 2020. Population is for the mukim of Kuala Lupis